Nuveen Asset Management LLC Cuts Position in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI)

Nuveen Asset Management LLC reduced its stake in MKS Instruments, Inc. (NASDAQ:MKSI - Free Report) by 3.0% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 140,597 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock after selling 4,332 shares during the period. Nuveen Asset Management LLC owned approximately 0.21% of MKS Instruments worth $14,677,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its position in MKS Instruments by 68.6% in the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 263 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. Proficio Capital Partners LLC acquired a new stake in MKS Instruments in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $36,000. TD Private Client Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in MKS Instruments in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in MKS Instruments by 424.1% in the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 414 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $45,000 after acquiring an additional 335 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd grew its holdings in MKS Instruments by 24,900.0% during the 4th quarter. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd now owns 500 shares of the scientific and technical instruments company's stock worth $52,000 after acquiring an additional 498 shares in the last quarter. 99.79% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

MKS Instruments Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ MKSI traded down $2.45 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $82.95. 106,550 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,052,507. The stock has a market cap of $5.59 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.62, a PEG ratio of 1.02 and a beta of 1.80. MKS Instruments, Inc. has a 1 year low of $54.84 and a 1 year high of $147.40. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $76.19 and a 200 day simple moving average of $95.62. The company has a current ratio of 3.19, a quick ratio of 2.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93.

MKS Instruments (NASDAQ:MKSI - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.71 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.42 by $0.29. The company had revenue of $936.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $913.59 million. MKS Instruments had a return on equity of 18.94% and a net margin of 5.30%. The company's revenue was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.18 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that MKS Instruments, Inc. will post 6.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MKS Instruments Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 6th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 27th will be paid a $0.22 dividend. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.06%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 27th. MKS Instruments's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 26.27%.

Insider Activity

In other MKS Instruments news, Director Elizabeth Mora sold 275 shares of MKS Instruments stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.46, for a total value of $25,426.50. Following the sale, the director now owns 17,384 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,607,324.64. The trade was a 1.56% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.57% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently commented on MKSI shares. Needham & Company LLC lowered their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $145.00 to $140.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, May 9th. Cantor Fitzgerald restated an "overweight" rating and set a $140.00 target price on shares of MKS Instruments in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of MKS Instruments from $93.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, May 23rd. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price objective on shares of MKS Instruments from $128.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Finally, Benchmark lowered their target price on shares of MKS Instruments from $142.00 to $135.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 14th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, MKS Instruments has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $134.92.

MKS Instruments Company Profile

MKS Instruments, Inc provides foundational technology solutions to semiconductor manufacturing, electronics and packaging, and specialty industrial applications in the United States, Germany, China, South Korea, and internationally. It operates through Vacuum Solutions Division (VSD), Photonics Solutions Division (PSD), and Material Solutions Division (MSD) segments.